Paper Transport Inc: Hair Follicle Test (a Few Questions)

In my recent experience hair testing is not released to the fmcsa clearinghouse because it is not recognized as a DOT requirement. I was at TMC for orientation and was sent home for an inconclusive urine test. Not positive, not negative. The administrator said they will not share that info to the clearinghouse since it was inconclusive. I took a urine and hair test for Knight Nov. 1st. I asked just for info if ppl fail the hair test would it go on the clearinghouse. I was told it would not because it is a private pre-employment drug screen and not a DOT drug screen. If you fail the hair test they will just not hire you. A failed urine test will definitely go on the clearinghouse.

I find the hair follicle testing frustrating. It punishes people that have cleaned themselves up, quit using drugs, and are trying to become employed. I smoked pot 8 months ago, and I didn't even like it. Now I have to wait a year to get tested. Further, hair follicle testing is known to have false positives, which means people are getting screwed over that were clean to start with. It's also known for plenty of false negatives, which Jamie should be hoping for.

If you smoked pot one time 8 months ago your fine. Heavy usage would be a concern. Even then just cut your hair after 8 months and wait for it to grow back long enough to get tested. For Heavy users body hair will still show but head hair would have grown out by then, especially getting it cut after 8 months

I see a lot of confusion on this topic. The fmcsa website says it does not recognize hair test for pre-employment, only urine. Companies are fighting to get hair tests recognized but as of right now it is not. So a failed hair test will not go onto the clearinghouse. Companies cannot share that info. My proof is from 2 companies. TMC and Knight.

It's also known for plenty of false negatives, which Jamie should be hoping for.

Not Jamie, he's an experienced driver. You mean Don C. who is just starting.

Laura

You're right. I apologize, Jamie.

I am in a CDL score for which I paid myself. Paper Transport looks like a great company. They scheduled me for a urinalysis and hair follicle test.

I know I'll pass the urinalysis, no problem. As for hair follicle: my hair is too short on my head, so they took leg hair. That will likely show marijuana, as it would definitely have been in my system up until the beginning of September (probably the 3rd of September).

My questions:

* Does anyone have experience with PTI to tell me: will that be an automatic "no"?

* Do the results of hair follicle tests go on your record these days? In other words, will I now be screwed forever?

Thanks in advance.

Hair follicle test is not a DOT recognized drug test, so it will not be reported as a failed drug test. You will be sent home. It will show up on your DAC that you went to orientation with a company and were sent home. You will have difficulty being hired by another company. You will be expected to explain why you got sent home. Just about every company you apply with will turn you down.

What I am wondering is why you would try to hire on with a company and do the hair follicle test knowing that you will fail the test? Did you think that you would get by not having to give hair for hair follicle by shaving your head?

According to ROADMASTER DRIVING SCHOOL : "As of right now, carrier companies can’t use hair follicle drug testing to satisfy Federal DOT drug testing requirements. In other words, you will probably have to perform a urine test, or urinalysis, too. However, trucking companies can make passing the hair follicle test a requirement for hire." So basically it depends on the company you are applying to. I hope you can find a company that doesn't need that test for hiring.

"What I am wondering is why you would try to hire on with a company and do the hair follicle test knowing that you will fail the test? Did you think that you would get by not having to give hair for hair follicle by shaving your head?"

I thought the same thing. Why go to school and then try to get a job knowing you are either going to fail a drug screen, or you think you will be the exception and somehow buck the system? For years, I have read posts from people who used drugs recently before paying for school or applying to a company with paid training, who are then surprised when they are declined employment. It is like. "What! I just did a little weed! Why shouldn't I be able to get a job driving a semi-tractor trailer!" Trying to buck the system is futile.

I am in a CDL score for which I paid myself. Paper Transport looks like a great company. They scheduled me for a urinalysis and hair follicle test.

I know I'll pass the urinalysis, no problem. As for hair follicle: my hair is too short on my head, so they took leg hair. That will likely show marijuana, as it would definitely have been in my system up until the beginning of September (probably the 3rd of September).

My questions:

* Does anyone have experience with PTI to tell me: will that be an automatic "no"?

* Do the results of hair follicle tests go on your record these days? In other words, will I now be screwed forever?

Thanks in advance.

Hair follicle test is not a DOT recognized drug test, so it will not be reported as a failed drug test. You will be sent home. It will show up on your DAC that you went to orientation with a company and were sent home. You will have difficulty being hired by another company. You will be expected to explain why you got sent home. Just about every company you apply with will turn you down.

What I am wondering is why you would try to hire on with a company and do the hair follicle test knowing that you will fail the test? Did you think that you would get by not having to give hair for hair follicle by shaving your head?

"What I am wondering is why you would try to hire on with a company and do the hair follicle test knowing that you will fail the test? Did you think that you would get by not having to give hair for hair follicle by shaving your head?"

I thought the same thing. Why go to school and then try to get a job knowing you are either going to fail a drug screen, or you think you will be the exception and somehow buck the system? For years, I have read posts from people who used drugs recently before paying for school or applying to a company with paid training, who are then surprised when they are declined employment. It is like. "What! I just did a little weed! Why shouldn't I be able to get a job driving a semi-tractor trailer!" Trying to buck the system is futile.

I am in a CDL score for which I paid myself. Paper Transport looks like a great company. They scheduled me for a urinalysis and hair follicle test.

I know I'll pass the urinalysis, no problem. As for hair follicle: my hair is too short on my head, so they took leg hair. That will likely show marijuana, as it would definitely have been in my system up until the beginning of September (probably the 3rd of September).

My questions:

* Does anyone have experience with PTI to tell me: will that be an automatic "no"?

* Do the results of hair follicle tests go on your record these days? In other words, will I now be screwed forever?

Thanks in advance.

Hair follicle test is not a DOT recognized drug test, so it will not be reported as a failed drug test. You will be sent home. It will show up on your DAC that you went to orientation with a company and were sent home. You will have difficulty being hired by another company. You will be expected to explain why you got sent home. Just about every company you apply with will turn you down.

What I am wondering is why you would try to hire on with a company and do the hair follicle test knowing that you will fail the test? Did you think that you would get by not having to give hair for hair follicle by shaving your head?

People just seem to not respect how seriously the industry takes the use of drugs. I guess it's better to weed them out before getting in a truck, pun absolutely intended.

Kerry,

To people in states that have legalized smoking pot, it's no different than drinking alcohol to us. We don't think of it as a big deal that some company is going to get on our case for it because we smoked it months ago. I think it's really dumb, infact, and I don't even like weed. Definitely don't smoke it and then drive, but to use it responsibly? Sure, why not?

Also, nice pun.

Kerry,

To people in states that have legalized smoking pot, it's no different than drinking alcohol to us. We don't think of it as a big deal that some company is going to get on our case for it because we smoked it months ago. I think it's really dumb, infact, and I don't even like weed. Definitely don't smoke it and then drive, but to use it responsibly? Sure, why not?

Also, nice pun.

I understand what you are saying, but it's not the companies making it a big deal. Whether anyone agrees with it or not, marijuana is a schedule 1 narcotic, according to the federal government. Trucking companies do not care at all about contradictory laws in any state. To protect themselves, trucking companies go beyond the federally required drug testing requirements to eliminate those who could pose a problem for the carrier, from a dru use standpoint.

Sometimes my puns are more punishment than anything; I mean they are puns.

Kerry,

To people in states that have legalized smoking pot, it's no different than drinking alcohol to us. We don't think of it as a big deal that some company is going to get on our case for it because we smoked it months ago. I think it's really dumb, infact, and I don't even like weed. Definitely don't smoke it and then drive, but to use it responsibly? Sure, why not?

Also, nice pun.

Even drinking alcohol IS a big deal to some companies. My first company told us (Orientation day 1) if you get caught drinking in the hotel bar OR with alcohol in your hotel room, you’ll be gone. And a few days later, some were. My current company says no alcohol in the truck, INCLUDING inside your body.

Please understand, these companies are putting us in control of hundreds of thousands (sometimes millions) of dollars worth of equipment and freight. They’re unleashing us onto public roadways where many people consider driving secondary to watching videos on their phones and texting.

When you write the checks, hire the lawyers to defend your company against negligence charges or face the families of people your employees killed, you get to make the rules.